Mayor and Council to Vote on FY 2027 Budget in May
May 1, 2026
The Mayor and Council’s focus areas of public safety, economic development and housing, informed by comprehensive feedback from the public, form the foundation of a city budget that is up for adoption in May.
The budget for Fiscal Year 2027, which begins July 1, is scheduled for a vote on Monday, May 4. Mayor and Council meetings are broadcast on channel 11 on county cable and livestreamed at rockville md.gov/rockville11.
In March, City Manager Jeff Mihelich proposed an operating budget of $187.1 million, a 6.6% increase over the FY 2026 adopted budget.
“While the city’s financial outlook remains stable, we continue to monitor broader economic conditions and potential state and federal policy changes that may affect shared revenues and grant funding,” Mihelich wrote in his introduction.
About $11 million in new funding will support the city’s Vision Zero Action Plan and Pedestrian Master Plan. Other public safety items include continuing a two-year closed-circuit television modernization initiative at city facilities, and strengthening the Rockville City Police Department’s patrol operations, special units and school coverage, as well as a $150,000 feasibility study for school pathway lighting.
The budget also includes a $1.6 million contribution to Rockville Economic Development, Inc., which features increased funding for economic development operations and expanded bio-sciences marketing efforts. In addition, the budget adds new regular full-time positions to enhance city services, including two police officers, a police sergeant, a senior community enhancement codes inspector to strengthen rental housing inspections, an assistant city attorney and a public works crew supervisor.
Other initiatives include a second electric bus for the Rockville Senior Center, an extended outdoor swim season for the Rockville Swim and Fitness Center, and expanded staffing at Montrose Discovery Preschool.
As part of budget work sessions, the Mayor and Council reviewed the proposed FY 2027-FY 2031 Capital Improvements Program, the five-year plan for funding construction and infrastructure maintenance that will support 56 projects during FY27. Seven new projects include funding for the first phase of the King Farm Farmstead Park Master Plan implementation and a new pavilion at Woottons Mill Park.
The proposed CIP includes $35.2 million in new appropriations and incorporates a $12.3 million general fund transfer to support long-term capital investments.
The general fund budget, which supports the largest portion of the operating budget, is $125.5 million, a 7.2% increase. The city’s real property tax rate of $0.292 per $100 of assessed valuation would remain the same for FY27. All residential and commercial property owners pay this tax. Rockville has not increased its property tax rate since 1995.
Visit rockvillemd.gov/agendacenter for video of Mayor and Council public hearings and work sessions, and the city manager’s budget presentation.
Find the adopted FY27 budget document — available in July — and more information at rockvillemd.gov/budget.